If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

REMINDER: Per PD policy, please do not share a link to, describe how to search for, request a link to, or request a PM about streaming video of a NBA game that is not coming directly through the NBA. Not even in a "wink-wink, nudge-nudge, know-what-I-mean" round-about sort of way. Thank you

Jared Wade: Taking Away the Three and Marginalizing Miamiís Role Players

The Heatís second best player has shot like trash in this series. After shooting 8-for-22
last night, as noted by Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com, Dwayne Wade is now 4-for-19
(21%) on jump shots in two games against Indiana. While Frank Vogel has credited this
to how well Paul George has been playing defense (which is mostly true), this isnít just
a second-round issue for Wade. Including the Knicks series, he is now 12-for-49 (25%)
on jumpers during the playoffs. That is horrible and if he continues to shoot at that rate
outside the paint, the Miami Heat have no chance to beat the Pacers. They really donít.

Most onlookers would expect Wade to turn it around, however. And even if he canít get
out of his jump-shooting slump, he is such a dynamic and versatile scorer that he will
find ways to put points on the board. He is still among the most lethal penetrators in
league history, a Maserrati on the break and a fixture at the free-throw line. His
individual talent to score remains the second-biggest concern for the Pacers (following,
ya know, the talents of that other guy.)

Conversely, it really isnít Wade that the Heat should be concerned about.

What they need to fix is the lack of production from their one-dimensional supporting
cast. Because the rest of the team is shooting just as poorly as Wade. In 160 combined
minutes during Game 2, the other eight players who entered the game other than
James and Wade scored just 23 points on 9-for-34 FGs (26.5%). In Game 1, over 140
combined minutes, Miami players not named LeBron, Wade or Bosh scored 21 points
on 7-for-21 (33%) shooting. And being even that useful required a 4-for-4, 9-point
performance from Joel Antony, a career 2.7 point per game scorer.

Part of the Plan

For the Pacers, this is all going according to strategy. Frank Vogel was on 1070 The
Fan radion in Indiana this morning and discussed how his team is focusing on taking
away Miamiís role players.

ď[We're] very focused on what those guysí strengths are,Ē said Vogel. ďAll their role
players are capable of much greater production than they put forth last night. But
they are sort of limited in what can do. Theyíre either drivers or shooters or dunkers
at the basket. But theyíre not versatile, theyíre not multi-weapon type of guys. So if
you just dial in to taking away their one strength, theyíre guys that can be limited.Ē

The number-one way to minimize the Heatís bench is to take away their ability to
shoot open three-point looks. There are very few ways any of them can hurt you
other than by making triples. And it is something they do very well.

In another installment of the Heat Index's 3-on-3 series, our writers give their takes on
the storylines before the Heat visit the Pacers for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference
semifinals.

1. Fact or Fiction: Dwyane Wade should have been suspended.

Tom Haberstroh: Fiction. Although, I've gone both ways on this one. Darren Collison
decelerated slightly for the pass, so I'm not sure it was all Wade's fault for the sheer
velocity of impact. But I can't shake the feeling that this wasn't a fully objective ruling. I
keep asking myself the following three "What Ifs": What if Collison and Wade switched
places? What if Chris Bosh wasn't out indefinitely? What if the Heat were up 2-0 instead of
split in the series? We'll never know.

Michael Wallace: Fiction. I thought a Flagrant 1 was adequate punishment to fit the
crime. As it turned out, that extra possession Indiana got as a result of Wade's message-
sending cheap shot ended up costing the Heat in a 3-point loss. I will say this: Had Wade
or LeBron been hit from behind like that, my guess is the call would have been more harsh
under the same circumstances.

Brian Windhorst: Fiction. It was a cheap shot hit and was properly called a flagrant
foul. It would've been interesting had it been called a flagrant-2 foul and they had to
review it and decide whether Wade should've stayed in the game. Joey Crawford was all
over the play, made the call and the league stood by him. It was proper.

2. Fact or Fiction: Heat need Haslem to step up more than Miller

Haberstroh: Fact. Haslem has played worse than just about anybody left in the
playoffs and the Heat don't have anyone who can score underneath. If they can just get
Haslem to provide 10 points with some mid-range jumpers and put-backs, it would open
up so much in LeBron James and Wade's games, especially in the pick-and-roll.

Wallace: Fact. Only because Shane Battier, Mario Chalmers or James Jones are
capable of giving Miami the shooting Mike Miller is supposed to provide. With Chris Bosh
out, Miami doesn't have any other bigs who as effective as Haslem could be in the pick-
and-roll game with Wade and LeBron. Who else is going to grab 10 rebounds if needed?
Haslem must first give Erik Spoelstra a reason to play him more than the 12 minutes he
got in Game 2.

Windhorst: Fact. Well, the Heat need somebody to step up, anyone. But Haslem
would be a bigger boost because if he was able to get his jumper going he would be a
threat in the pick-and-roll game. With Bosh gone, the Heat's favorite play has been
gutted because the Pacers do not respect whoever is in the play unless it is Wade and
LeBron.

3. Fact or Fiction: You expect the foul disparity to even out in Game 2.

Haberstroh: Fact. I would say that a breakout game of the Heat's supporting
cast is just around the corner, but I look at Haslem and Miller limping up and down
the floor and I can't help but wonder if there's something more that's plaguing this
team. The Pacers are healthy, hungry and home for the next two games. This is a
toss-up, to me.

Wallace: Fiction. I'd go 55/45 still in favor of the Heat. Miami still has the
league MVP in James and a top-5 player in Wade on the roster. Two more baskets
from anyone else on the roster the other night would've put the Heat ahead 2-0
right now. You could also look at it another way and say that if the refs didn't hold
back Indy in Game 1, the Pacers could also be up 2-0. So in essence, that does
mean this thing is essentially anyone's series to win.

Windhorst: Fiction. The Heat have the two-best players and overall more
experience. They still have the edge but it is much closer, there's a much smaller
margin for error with Bosh out.

Iíd like to congratulate the Indiana Pacers on stealing a road playoff game against one
of the best home teams in the NBA. It wasnít pretty by any means and it seemed like
both teams were giving the game away throughout the final couple minutes. However,
a win is a win in the playoffs and even the poor play by Indiana down the stretch
doesnít change the fact that the series is now evened up at one game apiece.

Thatís pretty huge for the Pacers to be heading back to Indiana after stealing home
court advantage.

Hereís the thing though: The Pacers are in some serious trouble.

The Heat looked completely disjointed on offense while trying to adjust to life without
Chris Bosh. Sure they scored 53 points in the second half of Game 1, but last night
was a fantastic combination of really good, aggressive defense by the Pacers and
utter confusion and a stalemate execution by Miami.

I think the Pacers defense will be fine against the Miami Heat. Paul George seems to
have figured out that his length can make up for any physical advantage Dwyane
Wade might have over him. Until Dwyane adjusts and figures out that he needs to do
his damage away from the ball and heading toward the basket coming off of screens,
George should be able to bother him and hope Wade isnít just making really hard
jumpers.

Grangerís effort on LeBron in the second half was great because he seemed to know
exactly how to get him to dribble toward the help and take away his driving lanes.
Weíve seen a lot in LeBronís career recently that if he doesnít have any daylight to
dribble into the paint, he seems to get confused on what he should do. He gets
complacent with his offensive attack and just relies on bad pull-up jumpers. In the
first half of Game 2, he got into the paint and used that floater heís been perfecting.
When the Pacers took away the paint in the second half, he had to rely on a lot of
effort plays (offensive rebounds, quick post-ups for position) to get points inside.

The thing I worry about with the Pacers is their offense. Itís extremely basic and itís
going away from everything theyíre good at.

Want to know why Danny Granger has been so bad in the first two games? Aside
from LeBron James suffocating him like an insecure and overbearing boyfriend
that is dating out of his league, the Pacers fail to recognize whenever Granger
might actually have an advantage.

On this play in particular, the Pacers have a chance to post Granger on the right
block with Mike Miller guarding him. If George makes the pass right away, Turiaf
probably dives toward the post to help and it gives Hibbert and his unending
length a clear area right at the basket. It looks like LeBron is anticipating a lob
pass here but a quick fake reversal pass to David West at his sweet spot
probably makes LeBron retreat. Instead George just seems completely lost with
the basketball.

When Paul George misses the entry pass right away, it allows Ronny Turiaf to
help over from Hibbert and that takes away the pass altogether. The problem I
have with this play is it seems like it was designed as misdirection on the post-
up to run Granger off of a screen to get him a jumper from 20 feet.

When Granger comes off the screen, LeBron is there in help defense to knock
the pass away (he jumps the screen perfectly) and get the Heat a transition
score the other way.

Itís really impossible to see why George Hill thought it was a good idea to make
this pass. LeBron is right there waiting to switch on the screen.

This steal leads to many people being shocked that Norris Cole can dunk a
basketball and me wanting to pull my hair out. They had a post up with Granger
on a guy who canít check him and instead of making the easy post-entry pass
or adjusting their play...CONTINUE READING AT HOOPSPEAK

The Heat role player I'm a little worried about is James Jones. The others I don't see kicking their struggles on the road against a good Indy crowd.

Harper is totally on point. We need to pound at the Heat over and over. Take Lebron out of the game with physicality. If we are this year's Mavs, Wade will continue to shoot poorly and be unreliable. Keep the good help defense rolling, not turn the ball over too much (Looking at you, George Hill.), take the rebounding advantage again, and score inside, we've got a great shot at taking the series lead.

Tom Haberstroh: Fiction. Although, I've gone both ways on this one. Darren Collison
decelerated slightly for the pass, so I'm not sure it was all Wade's fault for the sheer
velocity of impact. But I can't shake the feeling that this wasn't a fully objective ruling. I
keep asking myself the following three "What Ifs": What if Collison and Wade switched
places? What if Chris Bosh wasn't out indefinitely? What if the Heat were up 2-0 instead of
split in the series? We'll never know.

Michael Wallace: Fiction. I thought a Flagrant 1 was adequate punishment to fit the
crime. As it turned out, that extra possession Indiana got as a result of Wade's message-
sending cheap shot ended up costing the Heat in a 3-point loss. I will say this: Had Wade
or LeBron been hit from behind like that, my guess is the call would have been more harsh
under the same circumstances.

Brian Windhorst: Fiction. It was a cheap shot hit and was properly called a flagrant
foul. It would've been interesting had it been called a flagrant-2 foul and they had to
review it and decide whether Wade should've stayed in the game. Joey Crawford was all
over the play, made the call and the league stood by him. It was proper.

All I can say is, BULL. ****.

"What you do is so loud, I can't hear what you say" -Andrew Luck
"If you turn the other cheek, I'm gonna hit you in the other cheek, too" -Charles Barkley
"Ego is edging greatness out" -Rick Pitino

Sophomore at the University of Louisville
Greenfield-Central High School Alum '14
Follow me on Twitter @steagles1